Hello. So, about a month and a half after the tragedy, I’m sharing some news from Kalymnos in this format. Please don’t expect polished writing or stylistic editing. Even the technical details aren’t 100% accurate.

I’d like to share some information from the island with you in a few points, as briefly and clearly as possible, so here it is...

- Due to rebolting or the age of certain routes (20+ years), 10–15 sectors are currently closed, either partially or completely.

- There is a temporary ban on creating new routes. Even after the ban is lifted, it will no longer be possible to “freely” drill new routes as before. New routes will need to be consulted on and reported to Reboltingu Kalymnos or the second rebolting group established by the city (Pothia)… essentially similar to the system in place here. Currently (and likely in the future), only members of these two teams or people who have demonstrably established 10 or more routes here will be allowed to drill, rebolt, and otherwise maintain new and existing routes. Other interested parties may do so only under the supervision and in the presence of the aforementioned individuals or after completing training. Training will take place in the fall of 2026 on Kalymnos or “at any time” by agreement with Aris. Trained individuals will receive a license.

Among Czechs, only Jára Tišer currently meets these conditions. (50+ routes).



Kalymnos (hi res)

Photo by Martin

These measures are in effect due to the use of "new" technology—namely, the use of adhesive bolts instead of the previously used expansion bolts—as well as the creation of a route database and, last but not least, to ensure compliance with the use of newly approved safety equipment.

Given that the potential for creating new routes on the island has already been largely exhausted (90–95%), this will effectively involve a massive, island-wide rebolting of existing routes and sectors, followed by their maintenance to ensure safe climbing without the risk of safety equipment failure.

- Both teams, with a few exceptions (reported critical condition of a bolt or chain), are rebolting entire routes, i.e., the entire route’s protection and chains. Given the number of dangerous (old) routes, our initial proposal was to start by replacing only the chains where a fall could be fatal.

This proposal was rejected due to documentation issues and the lack of clarity regarding the ongoing rebolting process.

As mentioned above, two groups are currently rebolting... namely, the long-standing Rebolting Kalymnos team led by Aris Theodoropoulos, the so-called “father of Kalymnos,” who discovered the island for climbing and subsequently began bolting routes in the second half of the 1990s. This man is also the author of the first edition of the guidebook and all its subsequent updates.

Starting April 15, 2026, Rebolting Kalymnos will use exclusively bonded titanium bolts from the Greek company Lappas (I think 12 mm in diameter, 140 mm in length, or is it the other way around?) in combination with red adhesive (Hilti?).

The alleged safe lifespan, provided the correct installation technique is followed, can be up to 50 years. (I’m not sure..)

This group has long been funded exclusively by donations, without support from the city or the state.

Donations can be sent to Rebolting Kalymnos and, newly, also via the RebolttheWorld app, which I’ll mention in one of the following points.

Currently (May 14, 2026), materials have been purchased for another 100 routes (800–1,000 bolts), which reportedly represents two months of work at the team’s current efficiency.

From April 15 to May 15, 2026, 200 Ti bolts were rebolted, but this involved a lot of administrative work and other tasks. The team is being continuously reinforced.

The funds are there, but more people are needed.

- The second, newly established group falls under the jurisdiction of the city and the local government and is led by a local native whose name I didn’t catch…

Unfortunately, as has so often been the case in modern human history, the impetus for founding this group was a specific tragedy; without it, life would have sadly carried on merrily, in the spirit of “let’s keep going until the wheel falls off.”

Local leadership lived somewhat under the layperson’s assumption that the local money-making machine was a maintenance-free perpetual motion machine, and it was only the fear that this cash flow might stop that prompted them to act.

Suddenly, a fund appeared (city + subsidies from Athens) that allegedly—and reportedly for quite some time (since 2018)—contains 600,000 euros for rebolting. (information as of May 10, 2026)

Despite repeated requests in recent years, Rebolting Kalymnos has not received a single euro from the city for the maintenance of the cliffs and trails, nor any other form of support, not even moral encouragement… on the contrary, there have even been unsuccessful attempts to influence and restrict the team’s work. Probably politics (local), just like everywhere else in the world...

Since this island region of Greece is, in many aspects of life, services, and daily operations, closer to the Balkans than to Europe, there is one more "small" catch. The city fund and subsidies from Athens were based on the delivery of stainless steel safety equipment, not titanium. Returns and a new application are reportedly unrealistic, so this group is rebolting with glued stainless steel bolts (I don’t know the exact specification, likely material grade 316) with a proven safe service life of 10 years!!! ...such a shame... certainly better than nothing, but considering the amount of work involved.... judge for yourselves...


- Unfortunately, there is reportedly, to put it mildly, "some tension" between the two groups… gossip, envy, etc.

For these reasons, the city group does not accept the inclusion of routes they have rebolted into the new application Rebolt the world.org due to their unwillingness to assume any legal or general liability for the work of the other group.

This is the current status; further negotiations are still ongoing.



Kalymnos (hi res)

Photo by Martin

- The new RebolttheWorld app… aside from the information mentioned above, this is probably the most important new feature and tool for me as a user. It was created by Lee, an Australian mountain guide, climber, rescue worker, and helicopter pilot, who, among other things, has experience with rebolting near the coast in Australia and expertise in the field of “salt corrosion.”

The app is fast, easy to navigate, and offers a lot of features... to name a few: the ability to report faulty protection, loose rocks, etc., the total number of routes on the island with an overview of equipment and route age, the number of routes newly rebolted with titanium (as of today, approximately 200 since April 15, 2026), the option to donate money for rebolting, a list of rebolted routes assigned to individual sectors, a discussion forum, and a 3-color scale for routes and sectors... green—completely new protection, yellow—partial replacement, red—no rebolted route; you can also see the age of the route and the type of protection material used in unbolted sectors.

The app is primarily managed by ReboltingKalymnosteam.


- CZ Fundraiser... At the time I reached out to you via an article here on Lezec and phone messages, there was 30,000 CZK in the account, of which 20,000 CZK was sent by two direct participants immediately after the tragedy, and the account was, at that time, effectively inactive. About 10–14 days after the appeal was published, another approximately 80,000 CZK came in. Now, incoming payments are once again nearly zero, which is understandable as time goes on.

My reasons for supporting this fundraiser were (and still are) very personal and emotional at the time, and we simply wanted—and had to—do something right away… for myself, for Petr, and for the other climbers on the island… besides, at the time we weren’t aware of the information and facts mentioned above and below.


I’ve known Petr since I was 15, and over the past 38 years, I’ve shared countless days with him—not just climbing days, but training sessions and trips all over Europe, from one-day excursions to the sandstone crags and Krkavka, through weekends in Jura, to month-long trips to France, Italy, and Spain… and, of course, in recent years to his new home on Kalymnos.

This is just to illustrate and help understand (not only) my personal loss in the form of Bruml’s sudden and tragic passing…



Kalymnos (hi res)

Photo by Martin

The amount raised so far is currently around 110,000 CZK, and my personal goal and hope was to reach that 100,000 mark—which, thanks to you, we managed to achieve. Compared to the money that was found in the city relatively quickly after the fall (we’ll see if and how they handle it), this amount may seem small, but for me personally, it is at least just as significant and important.

As we announced when we launched the fundraiser, we will close it on May 30, 2026, and immediately publish the exact final amount, as well as how we will use it.

For now, we are considering either transferring the entire amount directly to the ReboltingKalymnos team’s account or purchasing materials (drills, bolts, flexi glue) and sending the remaining funds to the account.


I would like to take this opportunity to thank all donors and contributors very much... you have helped a good cause ♥️ ...

This whole tragedy has set in motion the process of restoring the bolting and hopefully ensuring safe climbing once again in the climbing paradise that Kalymnos undoubtedly was and is for many of us...


Last but not least, I want to thank Jirka Siko for his immediate and 100% support here on Lezec.




Kalymnos (hi res)

Photo by Martin

Martin "Zéďa" Zedek


P.S.: (In case Jirka enables comments on this post, I’m letting you know in advance that I won’t be responding. Thanks for your understanding.)